Thursday’s game

Broncos (9-3) vs. Raiders (3-9)

Spotlight on: Darren McFadden. The running back hopes to give the offense a spark after the Raiders scored only 44 points the past three games. McFadden has

Darren McFadden

Ed Zurga/AP

been out four games with a high ankle sprain, but running backs coach Kelly Skipper said he has his burst back. McFadden was held to 34 yards on 13 carries at Denver in September after averaging 144.7 in his previous three games against the Broncos.

The big 3

– In his first season back from neck surgeries, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is second in the NFL in completion percentage (68), touchdown passes (29) and passer rating (104.6). Manning was 30-for-38 for 338 yards with three TDs in Denver’s 37-6 win over Oakland on Sept. 30. The Broncos totaled 503 yards while limiting the Raiders to 237. “You’re never really ready for Peyton Manning,” Oakland defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said. “It’s a matter of getting on the same page and having enough coverage looks to hopefully slow down his progression and challenge guys in coverage. That’s what we need to do.”

– The Raiders rank last in the NFL in scoring defense (31.3 points per game), 28th against the run (130.4 yards) and 25th against the pass (256.6). “Week in and week out, it’s like it’s the same: can’t stop the run, can’t stop the pass,” cornerback Michael Huff said. “Things just aren’t going well on defense. Right now, I guess we’re just a bad defense. We can’t really hide it.”

– Oakland has lost five straight games for the first time since 2007 and has not led at any point in a game since early in the third quarter Nov. 4.